What’s Your Plan of Action for Mandatory Due Diligence?
There is growing momentum among governments all over the world that calls for Mandatory Due Diligence. This requires companies to undertake human rights and environmental due diligence. We now have the French Duty of Vigilance Law and the adoption in 2021 of new laws in Germany and Norway to the publication of a proposal for an EU-wide law in 2022, all moving in this direction. Major investors and companies are also speaking out in favour of such legislation, according to business-humanrights.org
Corporates will not be allowed anymore to focus on short-term benefits at the expense of long-term sustainable value creation. Environmental and social interests will also need to be fully woven into business strategies of the corporates.
Improving Commitment to Mandatory Due Diligence
Corporates are bound to get in line with human rights due diligence guidelines, as prescribed by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Yet very few actually comply with the standards and nearly half of the biggest companies in the world analysed in the latest Corporate Human Rights Benchmark could not produce any proof of mitigating human rights issues in their supply chains.
The KnowTheChain benchmarks showed companies scoring a poor 29% for their human rights due diligence efforts — something that mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence laws seek to address.
For these laws should to be effective, a few important factors need to be factored in, such as a due diligence obligation for businesses across their global value chains; an effective and safe stakeholder engagement; mandatory requirements that go beyond routine check and audits, a thorough look at irresponsible business models and purchasing practices, and strong civil liability enforcement.
We can help with Mandatory Due Diligence
The CRI Group™ has developed a highly specialised assessment solution for Corporate Due Diligence and Third-Party Risk Management to assist organisations in accurately identifying, preventing, mitigating and addressing actual and potential adverse impacts of affiliating with global partners and complies with all EU mandates.
From enhanced due diligence to identify non-compliance of the regulatory framework and damaging environmental allegations to investigating company (or stakeholder) human rights violations related to labour laws, child labour or human trafficking, CRI Group experts help determine the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners and suppliers affiliated with your company’s value chain.
The Benefits of Compliance
Recent studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between the extent to which companies implement environmental, social and good governance policies, and their overall economic performance, all while contributing to a more stable global marketplace. Such responsible business conduct will:
- Enhance protection for workers
- Improve access to justice for victims
- Safeguard the environment
- Ensure fair products for consumers
Further, apart from general compliance with EU mandates, such organisations will benefit from:
- Reduced overall liability risks
- Improved stakeholder protection
- Lower costs resulting from conflicts
- Improved company transparency
- More profound knowledge of the value chain
- Enhanced reputation in the market &
- Improved social standards for workers
CRI Group’s corporate due diligence and accountability solutions can help your organisation comply with a growing list of global regulations and mandates related to human rights and the environment while acting as an integral part of your business decision-making and risk management systems.
Contact the CRI Group to learn more about our Corporate Due Diligence and Accountability solutions and stay one step ahead of the pending EU mandates. We look forward to assisting you.
About CRI Group™
Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider.
We have the largest proprietary network of background screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.
In 2016, CRI Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification.
ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.
English 
العربية